Baltimore County native leading Artemis II mission as Commander

Dulaney High School alumnus Reid Wiseman is the commander of the historic lunar trip.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 3:01pm

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A highly structured abstract painting in soft, earthy tones of brown, green, and blue, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric planetary circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the complex forces and natural beauty of the Artemis II lunar mission.The Artemis II mission, led by Baltimore native Reid Wiseman, represents a historic leap forward in humanity's exploration of the moon and beyond.Baltimore Today

A crowd gathered at Mother's North Grille in Timonium, Maryland, to watch their former Dulaney High School classmate, Reid Wiseman, take off on the historic Artemis II mission to the moon. Wiseman, a Baltimore County native, is the commander of the four-person crew that will orbit the moon without stopping, setting a new distance record for the farthest humans have traveled from Earth.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marks humanity's first lunar trip in more than 50 years, paving the way for future crewed missions to the moon and potentially beyond. Wiseman's leadership of this mission is a source of pride for his local community and highlights the important role that STEM education and space exploration can play in inspiring the next generation.

The details

The Orion capsule carrying the four-person crew, including Wiseman as commander, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, is set to soar around the moon without stopping or orbiting, then come straight back towards Earth. If successful, the mission will set a new distance record for the farthest humans have traveled from Earth.

  • On Wednesday, April 2, 2026, the Artemis II mission launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
  • The Orion capsule is expected to return to Earth in approximately 10 days.

The players

Reid Wiseman

A Baltimore County native and Dulaney High School alumnus, Wiseman is the commander of the Artemis II mission, humanity's first lunar trip in more than 50 years.

Victor Glover

The pilot of the Artemis II mission, Glover is one of the four astronauts aboard the Orion capsule.

Christina Koch

A mission specialist on the Artemis II mission, Koch is one of the four astronauts aboard the Orion capsule.

Jeremy Hansen

A mission specialist on the Artemis II mission, Hansen is one of the four astronauts aboard the Orion capsule.

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What they’re saying

“I'm very emotional, I'm very emotional. We just wish them success and hopefully the journey back they'll be safe.”

— Jennifer Concepcion, Former Dulaney High School classmate of Reid Wiseman

“To be here and to see Reid, it's so amazing, just sending prayers for a safe mission.”

— Laura Hamilton, Class of 1993 Dulaney High School graduate

“He's so excited, this has been like a dream of his. He's paving the way and I know how much that means to him and to science and to NASA and to all the future generations. He's just so excited to be a part of such an epic time. He's brilliantly smart but he's so down to earth and just such an all around good family guy, community guy.”

— Kristin Chottiner

What’s next

If the Artemis II mission is successful, it will pave the way for future crewed missions to the moon, including the planned Artemis III mission that aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface.

The takeaway

Reid Wiseman's leadership of the historic Artemis II mission is a source of immense pride for his local community in Baltimore County, Maryland, and highlights the important role that STEM education and space exploration can play in inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers.